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So we've stopped conceding late goals, but started conceding them in the first 15 minutes! We lined up at the Vetch Field with a new-look 4-5-1 formation but our fourth defeat in the last five games was underway as soon as the 12th minute. Swansea captain David Penney struck early, lobbing Scott Barrett from fully 30 yards. He added a second spectacular goal from 25 yards just three minutes later and from then on Cambridge were always on the ropes.
The Swans added their third on 79 when their two debutant loan signings linked up. Everton's John Hills crossed the ball low and hard, Scott Barrett slipped and Paul Brayson of Newcastle United finished the job. Barrett made some great saves in the dying stages of the game and our late reply came when John Taylor capitalised on some loose marking by heading back across their 'keeper. It will be a long trip home from the Vetch Field tonight.
Swansea now move above us in the table into fourth place, although they have played a game more. Leaders Fulham tonight continued their recent shaky form with a 4-1 home defeat by Cardiff City.
United line-up: Barrett, Joseph (Hayes 88), Granville, Preece, Craddock, Raynor, Ashbee, Kyd, Taylor, Barnwell, Beall (Wanless 79).
Sub not used: Thompson.
Tonight's team news: David Preece will be in the team tonight for the tough test at Swansea City. The veteran midfielder proved his fitness in training after missing two matches due to hamstring trouble, and is likely to replace one of the teenagers in midfield, Adie Hayes or Billy Beall.
Jamie Barnwell has now made a full recovery from chickenpox and also looks certain to feature, possibly at the expense of teenager Michael Kyd.
"It gives us a bit more pace and experience in the squad than we had against Hereford," said Roy McFarland, who has revealed his plans for the future of United's squad.
While most of his predecessors have complained at some time about the difficulties of having to operate with a small squad, he believes it would be a benefit to drop below the current 21. But it is not simply a matter of releasing three or four fringe players. The United manager stresses that he wants quality rather than quantity, which means he would have to bring in at least a couple more experienced men, but he faces a major problem posed by the reluctance of key players Matt Joseph, Micah Hyde, Danny Granville and Jody Craddock to commit themselves to new contracts.
"It's difficult to judge how many new players I'll need if I'm looking forward to next season. We don't know how many of the out-of-contract people are likely to leave," he explained. "But I want a more solid squad - one in which there is real competition for places between the lads in the team and players who can slot straight in."
The United boss is also sure to try to change the age profile of the squad. He is well aware the proportion of youngsters is too high and was thwarted in his plans to bring in two players this week when Jody Craddock's transfer to Oxford United fell through.
The repercussions of Jody Craddock's on-off transfer to Oxford United rumble on, with news emerging today that United have had to shelve plans to bring in two new players. Chairman Reg Smart said Roy McFarland had been given the go-ahead to make the signings in an effort to boost the promotion campaign.
"It wouldn't have meant paying fees, but Jody moving on would have made it possible for us to sign the players." He added intriguingly, "One of them would have been a big surprise for the fans."
The Craddock deal is still making the headlines and Skytext report that Jody's indecision cost him the move. They say that the two clubs had agreed the main points of the deal but the player turned down the terms offered to him by Oxford, only to later change his mind.
Roy McFarland said, "We advised Jody to accept the Oxford offer and if he had agreed at the start of the week he could have signed. He took too long and now the deal looks dead."
The only development today is that the 30-year-old player Oxford were bidding for instead, Andy Tillson of Bristol Rovers, is apparently happy at his present club and his manager Ian Holloway says the defender is going nowhere. The Oxford fans would prefer Jody by the tone of their messages on the Oxford web site.
Jody Craddock will not be moving to Oxford United. After two days of talks with Oxford manager Denis Smith the 21-year-old central defender has failed to agree personal terms with the First Division club and will be staying at The Abbey for the time being.
He is one of four players who have refused to extend their current deals and will be a free agent in the summer, with a lucrative move abroad under the Bosman agreement being one of his options.
The supporters will have mixed feelings at this news. The £400,000 that United would have received for Craddock would have covered a year's losses at the rumoured rate of £8,000 a week, and we have several central defenders in the squad who could have taken Jody's place in the team. Personally, I hope his apparent lack of long-term commitment to the club does not affect his performances on the field as when he is on the top of his game he is a classy player. In fact, if he is not staying at the club beyond the end of the season I would expect him to raise his recent patchy form, if only to attract further interest from bigger clubs.
22:30 Update: Both Ceefax and Teletext are reporting that the deal fell through because of Jody's indecision, and they suggest that he initially turned down the terms on offer but then changed his mind. Whether the deal will or can be resurrected is unclear, especially as Oxford appear to have transferred their interest to Bristol Rovers' 30-year-old defender Andy Tillson.
Further to yesterday's news that the club have accepted an offer from Oxford United for Jody Craddock, the defender was today thinking over the personal terms offered to him by the First Division club.
The A.G.M. was held last night and in a frank session manager Roy McFarland revealed that three more key players are refusing to sign new contracts. Defenders Matt Joseph and Danny Granville and skipper Micah Hyde, are "keeping their options open," McFarland revealed. He told shareholders that he had offered new terms to the three players, but none had yet agreed to sign.
Chairman Reg Smart had better news when he told last night's annual meeting that the board were close to final discussions with some of the people who responded when the club was advertised for sale three months ago. It is believed that more than one person could be close to investing in the club but the nature of the interest was not revealed, so whether a take-over or just a major investment is on the cards remains to be seen.
Reg Smart and Roger Hunt were re-elected to the board during the meeting, and share dealings in CUFC Ltd have been suspended due to the negotiations with interested parties.
The Abbey Rabbit editor Steve Jillings was present and he asked Roy McFarland about the team's defensive formation and the subsequent lack of width. The manager apparently responded that "It was the formation I inherited."
However, if the Jody Craddock deal does go through it would be an opportunity to restore Matt Joseph to the right side of defence with a licence to raid forward. Dave Thompson, Paul Wanless and several others will be keen to step in and stake a claim in the centre of defence, although McFarland has hinted that he may bring in a new face with some of the proceeds from the potential Craddock fee.
This morning's strong rumours that defender Jody Craddock was the subject of a renewed bid from First Division Oxford United have been confirmed by club secretary Steve Greenall. Former manager Tommy Taylor rejected a bid from Oxford during the summer but today's speculation on the OUFC web sites (including the player profile lifted straight from these pages!), Teletext, Ceefax and the Cambridge Evening News has proved to be correct. The deal includes a sell-on clause and is believed to be worth up to £400,000 - mostly of that sum is guaranteed but some is dependent on Oxford gaining promotion - and Jody has been in talks with representatives of Oxford United today.
Oxford's summer bid was a paltry £175,000 but Preston North End, under ex-Abbey number two Gary Peters, made offers of £200,000 and then £300,000 late last year as Roy McFarland was appointed as the new boss. McFarland believed Jody was worth more and rejected the offers, but now his hand has been forced by Oxford's improved deal. I believe Jody's contract is due to expire in the summer, which will presumably have some bearing on United's decision, and of course Oxford United have cash to spend after selling their defender Matt Elliot for a club record £1.6 million to Leicester this month. They have also been linked with Celtic defender Malky Mackay.
If the deal goes through it will be our second biggest transfer deal after the sale of Dion Dublin to Manchester United for £1 million, and it would represent a handsome profit on a player who arrived at The Abbey Stadium on a free transfer from Christchurch three and a half years ago. Greenall reported that Jody had been tracked by several clubs for some time.
Craddock's departure would be a disappointing move for the supporters but there was some good news today regarding David Preece. The veteran midfielder was brought to the club in September by Tommy Taylor and has been linked with Leyton Orient since Taylor took over at the London club in November, but today he pledged his future to Cambridge United. He is already doing some coaching and Roy McFarland says he sees Preece as an eventual number two.
Meanwhile the club's Annual General Meeting is tonight at 7.30pm.
A disastrous result against lowly Hereford saw United fall further behind in the promotion race. Hereford came to The Abbey Stadium without a league win in 13 matches and can have hardly believed their luck when Chris Hargreaves conjured a goal out of nothing after 11 minutes, his low 22 yard shot giving Scott Barrett no chance.
United had to battle out of their own half to create chances and John Taylor twice missed from close range, but Hargreaves came close to wrapping it up when he hit the post in the 50th minute. Roy McFarland sent two extra strikers on during the second half with Jamie Barnwell replacing wing-back Adie Hayes on 57 and Tony Richards on for Ian Ashbee after 70, and Barnwell wasted a golden chance to equalise. Possibly suffering with the after-effects of chicken-pox he raced clear mid-way through the second half and rounded the Hereford 'keeper, but then fired wide of the empty net.
United produced a grandstand finish but second from bottom Hereford were determined to cling to the points and used every method of time-wasting, and despite fully seven minutes of stoppage time the U's were unable to break down their visitors.
A very disappointing defeat indeed, especially coming after the hard-fought win against Exeter in mid-week. Promotion rivals Fulham and Wigan recorded victories while Carlisle - although defeated by Sheffield Wednesday - enjoyed a lucrative sell-out in the FA Cup Fourth Round. United are now nine points behind Fulham, having played the same number of matches, whilst Wigan and Carlisle are three points clear of the U's with two games in hand. Next month's televised home match against Carlisle now takes on "must win" proportions.
United line-up: Barrett, Matt Joseph, Granville, Hayes (Barnwell
57), Craddock, Raynor, Ashbee (Richards 70), Wanless, Taylor, Kyd, Beall
(Thompson 85).
Booked: Raynor (dissent 89)
United boss Roy McFarland will tell David Preece to "take it easier," after injury ruled the player-coach out of last night's clash with Exeter.
"David played two hard games last week," said McFarland, "but he still wants to race around in training."
Preece will need to pace himself as United start to tackle their backlog of games after having four matches postponed over the Christmas and New Year period due to the weather, and his experience in the centre of the field will be vital in the promotion battle ahead.
We can all breathe a collective sigh of relief after that one! John Taylor made a triumphal return to The Abbey Stadium and helped his team to a much-needed victory after taking part in two successive away defeats, and even scored on his home comeback. But the vital win was inspired by his teenage striking partner Michael Kyd, restored to the starting line-up in the absence of chicken pox victim Jamie Barnwell. Kyd sent a clear statement of his ambition to the manager with a brace - the first after just 36 seconds and set up Taylor's goal too.
There were several changes to the team since our last home game but their statement of intent was there for all to see as Michael Kyd opened the scoring after just 36 seconds when he tucked away the rebound when Paul Wanless' shot was blocked. He then provided a 30 yard pass for John Taylor to score with a fine looping header on 24 minutes and the supporters could start to relax a little, but 11 minutes later Exeter battled their way back into it through Noel Blake.
Michael Kyd restored the two-goal margin a minute before half-time by forcing in the rebound after Paul Raynor's shot was blocked, and the U's supporters could enjoy their half-time bovril and joke nervously about the likelihood of two late goals this evening.
Unfortunately, after Exeter clawed one back through Steve Flack on 56 the Amber Army had to endure a nervous last half hour. Taylor had a good chance to put the result beyond doubt six minutes from the end, but failed to finish a great break from defence.
Nevertheless this is a welcome victory after the enforced lay-off and two away defeats in quick succession, and hopefully the team can repeat the performance on Saturday when Hereford are the visitors.
Elsewhere Wigan retained third place in the table by winning at Leyton Orient - despite a goal from the O's Scott McGleish - and they still have two games in hand over Cambridge United.
United line-up: Barrett, Matt Joseph, Granville, Hayes, Craddock, Raynor, Ashbee, Wanless, Taylor, Kyd (Richards 86), Beall
Subs not used: Thompson, Williamson
Booked: Granville (foul 34), Joseph (foul 61)
Skipper Micah Hyde could miss the next eight matches of United's faltering promotion campaign. After missing Saturday's match the young midfielder went for X-rays today, and they were expected to confirm the need for an immediate operation on a toe injury which may require breaking and resetting.
Striker Jamie Barnwell also missed the match through chicken pox and is not expected to feature in tomorrow's home match against Exeter.
Darlington exacted revenge for their 5-2 drubbing at The Abbey in October by recording their first home league win in almost two months and knocking United out of the automatic promotion places.
A sparse home crowd at Feethams saw Cambridge - missing top scorers Micah Hyde and Jamie Barnwell - play some nice football in midfield but fail to make the break-through. John Taylor came close with a header for United, but too many crosses were claimed by the Darlington 'keeper. For Darlington Brian Laws, who was short-listed for the United manager's job in November, nearly scored with a long shot that was just wide.
But the home side, who included two debutants, blew a gaping hole in our promotion hopes with two goals. On our current form, no United supporter will be surprised to hear that they were conceded in the 86th and 89th minutes of the match. The first came when a cross from the right bounced across the goalmouth and substitute Glen Naylor scored from close range - the ball possibly deflecting off the stretching Jody Craddock. Then a minute from time, with United inevitably pushing forward, a long ball out of defence set Robbie Blake racing clear of our stretched defence. He ran on to face Scott Barrett and beat the 'keeper with a powerful rising shot from 15 yards which flashed under the crossbar.
This second away defeat in a week sees Cambridge slip down to fourth place after spending almost the entire season in the promotion slots, while Wigan's away win at Exeter sees them move above the U's with two games in hand. Leaders Fulham had their lead cut to three points as they also suffered their second defeat in a week at the hands of lowly Torquay, and second-placed Carlisle took a point from Fulham's mid-week conquerers Colchester.
United line-up: Barrett, Matt Joseph, Granville, Preece, Craddock, Raynor, Ashbee, Wanless (Thompson 83), Taylor, Kyd (Richards 70), Beall.
Sub not used: Hayes
United could be without their two leading goalscorers in tomorrow's third division match at Darlington. Striker Jamie Barnwell is suffering from suspected chicken pox, while skipper Micah Hyde has an inflamed toe.
"They are both getting medical checks today," said manager Roy McFarland, "and I'm afraid it doesn't look very good."
He pointed to Hyde's small, but painful, injury as a major factor in the patchy form which is starting to hamper United's promotion campaign.
"Micah's been carrying it for some time," he said, "and I've no doubt it's affecting his game. And when that happens it's a major problem for us because he is a playmaker, and we don't have many of those in the squad."
Hyde broke into the team on a regular basis at the end of last season and has only missed one game so far this season, making the central midfield berth his own with some stunning displays. His form is hugely influential on the team's performance and his early season knack of scoring goals has been sorely missed in recent games.
United boss Roy McFarland slammed his side for a dismal display in yesterday's 1-0 defeat at Scarborough.
"It was the worst performance since I took over," said the Cambridge United boss, "and possibly the worst of the season. We got what we deserved -- nothing. We were rusty after the postponed matches, but I don't want anybody using that as an excuse."
The only bright spot yesterday evening was Matt Joseph's unveiling of his new black and amber dreadlocks, while travelling support for the U's was so lacking that the club's away travel club could not justify the coach hire.
Tonight at the McCain Stadium 1997 finally got underway for the U's, but you might have wondered if our players had forgotten what their team-mates looked like during the enforced two week gap between matches. Passes went astray and chances failed to materialise in the early stages of a scrappy match, and even the return of the towering John Taylor could not inspire United.
Our midfield was frequently over-run and wing-backs Ian Ashbee and Adi Hayes played more as conventional full-backs in a five man defence. The veteran Andy Ritchie and Jamie Mitchell had several chances for the Seasiders in the first half as Scarborough enjoyed most of the possession but failed in front of goal. For United skipper Micah Hyde had a 15-yard shot saved on the line.
In the second half Jamie Barnwell had probably our best chance with a volley that just scraped over the bar. Not until the last fifteen minutes did the U's really look threatening and start to expose Scarborough's frailties at the back, but somehow possession could not be converted into goals.
It was unfortunately the same old story when the game was decided on 86 minutes; in a rare lapse by our defence Gareth Williams found enough space to set up to score from 15 yards. Another late goal and, despite seven minutes of time added on, another point down the drain.
Leaders Fulham suffered a defeat at Colchester but Cambridge remain in third place behind Carlisle, with Scarborough climbing into the play-off places after this victory.
United line-up: Barrett, Matt Joseph, Granville, Preece (Richards 87),
Craddock, Ashbee, Hayes, Hyde, Taylor, Barnwell (Kyd 82), Beall.
Sub not
used: Thompson.
From the Cambridge Evening News:
John Taylor was five months late
coming "home" to Cambridge United because his pride would not allow
him to sign at the start of the season.
"I had talks with Tommy Taylor," he said. "But, although I knew it was probably the right time for me to move on, I was reluctant to leave Luton with the job undone. It's the first place I haven't had success. They paid Bradford £200,000 for me, but I didn't get goals like I did at my other clubs. I had to have the same kind of back operation as Mick Harford, and he told me later it took him nine months to recover fully from it.
"At the time I was told I could be playing again in four or five months, which was what I tried to do, but it was too soon. So it was in my head that I should stay at Luton and show them what I could really do. But after a few weeks I could see I wasn't going to get the chance to do it in the first team. The form came back when I played on loan at Lincoln and Colchester, and I feel I'm making a fresh start coming back to Cambridge."
They were the glory days for him when he and Dion Dublin terrorised defences during a four-year spell in which United climbed from deep in Division Four to the second division play-offs, and reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup two years running.
"It was a great time," he said. "We put Cambridge on the football map like no other club of this size. There were so many highlights for me, like scoring in every round of the Cup from the first to the quarter-finals, and hammering Ron Atkinson's Sheffield Wednesday 4-0 at the Abbey."
The 32-year-old striker has not returned out of nostalgia, however.
"I wouldn't have liked to come back to a Cambridge side struggling in the bottom half of the third division," he said. "I played against them twice for Colchester this season, and I reckon they are up in the promotion places on merit. All three centre-halves, Jody Craddock, Danny Granville and Matt Joseph, could be playing in a higher division. I've looked at the rest of the fixtures and I reckon we have a great chance of going up.
"There's a bit of experience down the spine of the team now, with Scott Barrett, David Preece and myself, and there are a lot of very good young players who I think I'll be able to help. It isn't just in games. It's on the training ground and just generally in the changing room, where it helps to have players around who have been there and done it."
A late starter in the League at 24, the 6ft 3in striker was a prolific non-League goalscorer who was able to make a smooth transition to the professional game. He hit 21 goals in the 1989 season when United won the fourth division play-offs at Wembley, gaining hero status among the fans with a hat-trick in the 3-2 victory over arch-rivals Peterborough.
As Beck's men drove on to the old third division title, he hammered 18 goals. But towards the end of a less fruitful second division season, he was swapped controversially for Bristol Rovers player Devon White.
"It was upsetting for me when the team went down to Leicester in the play-offs," he said. "Although I wasn't part of it any more, I would have loved to have seen United in the Premiership. Now they've had to start all over again, and it would be marvellous to help bring some of the good days back."
As anticipated, tomorrow's home match against Exeter City was called off due to the Abbey Stadium pitch being unplayable. Our next scheduled game is the re-arranged trip to Scarborough on Tuesday. (See fixture list)
John Taylor will be available to lead the United attack in our next game after completing the formalities of his return this morning. The 32-year-old was an Abbey hero in the promotion years of the early 90s and enjoyed a prolific partnership with Dion Dublin. He had fruitful spells with Bristol Rovers and Bradford City following Cambridge, and leaves Luton Town on a free transfer after loan spells this season at Lincoln City and Colchester. "Shaggy" will bring some welcome experience to our forward line and is likely to partner the in-form Jamie Barnwell, with teenager Michael Kyd dropping to the bench.
John Taylor will possibly be a Cambridge United player by Saturday after apparently passing his medical on Tuesday leaving just the details to be tied up. But even if he is eligible for the U's there is further doubt that the home clash with Exeter can go ahead.
Light snow in Cambridge today combined with a still-frozen pitch could mean postponing our fourth match since Boxing Day and leaving club secretary Steve Greenall with yet another match to rearrange.
Finally, in other local news, Roscoe Hipperson has signed for neighbours Cambridge City from Dr Martens League rivals King's Lynn. The 21 year old centre-back spent some time on trial with United during the pre-season build-up.
Saturday's match at The Abbey Stadium is currently far from certain to go ahead. Exeter are due to be United's first opponents for a fortnight but the pitch is still frozen and with snow a possibility on Friday the match is in "considerable doubt".
United are under no pressure to sell players before the end of this season's promotion campaign. That was emphasised by director Gary Harwood, despite the latest financial figures proving the club's life and death dependence on the transfer market.
United made the third biggest profit in the club's history last season, £164,552. It is the fourth consecutive year the annual accounts have shown a trading profit, but each time it has only been achieved by selling the best players.
Transfer income last season was £744,960, from the sales of Mick Heathcote and Carlo Corazzin (to Plymouth), Jon Sheffield (Peterboring) and Steve Butler (Gillingham), plus sell-on instalments from Birmingham City for Liam Daish (to Coventry) and Steve Claridge (to Leicester).
Without that money there would have been a deficit on the year of more than £400,000.
Of the current team, Jody Craddock was the subject of bids from Preston North End and Oxford United earlier this season, and only this week Leyton Orient made an offer for Danny Granville. More enquiries are sure to be forthcoming in the run up to the transfer deadline.
After talks at the weekend with manager Roy McFarland, striker and former U's hero John Taylor has agreed to rejoin Cambridge United. "Shaggy" is available on a free transfer from second division Luton Town but the move depends on thorough medical tests this week.
"John has had a back operation," said McFarland. "He appreciates we have to take a close look at his fitness."
A vital part of the successful rise through the divisions under John Beck, and one of a prolific strike force with Premiership stars Dion Dublin and Steve Claridge, Taylor's return is sure to be welcomed by the supporters, but it may signal the departure of Robbie Turner.
McFarland also confirmed that Leyton Orient made an audacious £60,000 bid for defender Danny Granville, but added, "There is no way we are going to let a player of his potential go for money like that."
Two of our postponed matches have been re-arranged with the match at Scarborough now fixed for a week on Tuesday (the 14th, at 7.30pm) and Scunthorpe at home on Tuesday February the 25th.
Despite the lack of match action today manager Roy McFarland is expected to be occupied over the weekend in transfer talks with former United striker John Taylor.
Tomorrow's match at The Abbey is now definitely postponed, in common with many of tomorrow's league and F.A. Cup third round ties. Local referee Nick Bailey inspected the frozen pitch at 11am and ruled it unplayable. United have now been forced to miss three of their last four fixtures with no action in prospect now until next Saturday's home clash with Exeter City.
But there was much better news from the club today when it emerged that former U's hero John Taylor may be on his way back to The Abbey Stadium. "Shaggy" was a star of the John Beck promotion seasons, and supporters will be pleased to hear that manager McFarland is having transfer talks with the 32-year-old Luton Town striker. Taylor terrorised the U's defence whilst on loan to Colchester just before Christmas and caught Roy McFarland's eye.
"We are discussing a permanent move," said McFarland. "I've seen John in plenty of games and I was impressed with him when he played against us recently on loan with Colchester. He's a big striker, still a handful in the penalty area, and he would add something extra to our squad."
Former boss Tommy Taylor considered a move for Shaggy earlier in the season but wanted him to undergo a vigorous medical due to a history of back trouble. The striker declined but has enjoyed fruitful loan spells under Beck at Lincoln and, more recently, Colchester, scoring against the U's in the 2-2 league match and using his ability in the air to set up the last-gasp winner for Colchester in the Auto-Windscreens Shield tie.
Hopefully Taylor will be back in the black and amber by the time we can play our next match.
United's third division derby against Northampton on Saturday looks like being another victim of the big freeze. United groundsman Trevor Ball described the Abbey Stadium pitch today as "frozen solid."
"It's like concrete," he told the C.E.N. "We probably need a thaw to get the match on, and it's not forecast. We could have done with a bit more snow to insulate the pitch, but we only got a light dusting. Northampton were able to play yesterday, but I understand they had a lot more snow there which kept the frost out of the pitch. To be honest there's not a lot we can do at the moment. The goalmouths are covered with straw, but there's no way we can heat the pitch. We just have to hope for a rise in temperatures. At the moment there's not a lot of hope of playing at the weekend."
If the game is called off it will be United's third postponement over the holiday period, after the Boxing Day match against Scunthorpe and yesterday's fixture at Scarborough. There is no midweek fixture next week, but the cash-strapped club will be hoping for a break in the weather to allow them to stage the home game against Exeter City a week on Saturday.